LIBN readers don’t take all their vacation days

By: Jenna Macri December 21, 2017Comments Off on LIBN readers don’t take all their vacation days

With the end of 2017 fast approaching, it turns out many LIBN readers haven’t taken as many days off from work as they could have.

That’s according to a recent informal poll by LIBN. In response to the question, “Will you have used all your vacation days by the end of 2017?” most respondents – 55 percent – said they won’t take all the vacation days offered to them by their employer. But what happens to those unused vacation days varies.

Of those who have days left, 60 percent said their unused days can be rolled over to 2018. Another 31 percent said they lose vacation days that aren’t taken by the end of the year. And a lucky 9 percent said their company allows them to cash out unused vacation days.

But for some voters, taking vacation isn’t that simple – or even an option.

A set number of vacation days isn’t determined by an employer for 11 percent of voters. Another 11 percent said their job doesn’t offer them vacation days at all.

Only 22 percent of all voters said they’ve taken full advantage of vacation days offered to them – suggesting LIBN readers could be missing out on some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Research suggests leaving vacation time on the table is a country-wide tendency. A 2016 study by Project Time Off revealed Americans collectively left $272 billion in accumulated time off last year. The study showed 53 percent of employees leave time on the table, while 59 percent of managers and 67 percent of executive and senior leaders do so.

LIBN conducts weekly informal, unscientific polls of readers on LIBN.com. The “Vacation Days” poll was open from Dec. 14 through Dec. 20. Click hereto respond to this week’s poll question: Are you looking forward to the Islanders’ return to Long Island?